ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- Who will be this year's Thanksgiving turkey, Jerry Jones or Jimmy Johnson? That may not be the question with the most import in Week 12 of the NFL season, but it's one of the most intriguing.
The Dallas Cowboys (5-5) and Jones need a win badly as the Miami Dolphins (8-2) and Johnson invade Texas Stadium, Johnson's first coaching trip to Dallas since he and Jones parted ways in March 1994.
In the other Thanksgiving Day game, the Chicago Bears (5-6) visit the Detroit Lions (6-4) in the tight NFC Central.
In the best Sunday matchups, the struggling New England Patriots (6-4) visit the Buffalo Bills (7-4) in a must-win situation for the Patriots if they are to stay alive for the AFC East title. Otherwise, they'll be scrapping for a wild-card spot with six or eight other teams. The Oakland Raiders (5-5) play host to the Kansas City Chiefs (5-5) to determine who will stay in sight of Seattle (8-2) in the AFC West.
| Week 12 NFL Preview |
| Bears (5-6) at Lions (6-4), 12:40 p.m. Thursday |
| Key Stat |
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14: Number of Thanksgiving Day games played between the two teams, with the Bears holding an 8-6 advantage.
Stats matchup
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| Key Matchup |
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Jim Miller and Bears' suddenly high-flying attack against Detroit's secondary that will be missing both starting cornerbacks (Kevin Abrams and Bryant Westbrook) due to injury and starting free safety Mark Carrier to suspension.
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| Player to Watch |
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Marcus Robinson: Bears wide receiver no longer sneaks up on teams. Has 53 receptions for 967 yards and six touchdowns.
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| Dolphins (8-2) at Cowboys (5-5), 4:15 p.m. Thursday |
| Key Stat |
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875: Number of yards rushing by the Cowboys' Emmitt Smith.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Tony Martin and the Dolphins' receivers vs. Deion Sanders and the Cowboys' secondary.
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| Player to Watch |
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Troy Aikman: Cowboys' quarterback returns to action after missing two starts despite having sustained two concussions within eight days in early November.
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| Saints (2-8) at Rams (8-2), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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11: Number of touchdowns scored by Isaac Bruce, the Rams' most fluid and accomplished wide receiver.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Ricky Williams and Saints' running game vs. Rams' defense, which is allowing an average of just 75 yards rushing per game.
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| Player to Watch |
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Kurt Warner: Rams' quarterback continues to play well, although his quarterback rating has dropped to a merely mortal 111.
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| Chargers (4-6) at Vikings (6-4), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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858: Number of receiving yards by the Vikings' Cris Carter, who has caught nine touchdown passes.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Jeff George and the Vikings' passing attack vs. Chargers' defense, which gives up an average of 198 passing yards per game. Vikings average 256 yards per game in the air.
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| Player to Watch |
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Jim Harbaugh: Chargers' quarterback has struggled but played well against the Bears in the overtime loss. He was 29 of 46 for 273 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Season's quarterback rating is 60.
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| Cardinals (4-6) at Giants (5-5), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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9: Number of touchdown passes and interceptions thrown by Giants quarterbacks Kent Graham and Kerry Collins.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Giants defense, eighth-best in the league, vs. Cardinals anemic offense, which is averaging fewer than 13 points per game.
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| Player to Watch |
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Eric Swann: Cardinals' defensive tackle is back from reconstructive knee surgery. Had two sacks against the Cowboys.
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| Titans (8-2) at Browns (2-9), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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0-5: Cleveland Browns record at home.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Titans' defense vs. Browns' running game, which managed only 68 yards against the Panthers in Week 11.
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| Player to Watch |
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Steve McNair: Titans' quarterback is starting to get back in the groove, rushing for two touchdowns in Tennessee's win over the Steelers.
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| Eagles (3-8) at Redskins (6-4), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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15: Number of touchdowns by Redskins running back Stephen Davis, which leads the NFL.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Washington's explosive offense vs. Eagles' defense, which gives up only 206 total yards per game.
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| Player to Watch |
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Donovan McNabb: Eagles' rookie quarterback is being forged in the crucible of battle. Tough day against the Colts in Week 11, throwing two interceptions and connecting on 19 of 36 attempts for 165 yards and a touchdown.
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| Jaguars (9-1) at Ravens (4-6), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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65: Number of receptions by Jimmy Smith, the Jaguars leading receiver.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Tony Banks and the Ravens struggling offense vs. Jaguars top-ranked defense, which allows only 8 points per game.
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| Player to Watch |
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Mark Brunell: Jaguars' quarterback has been effective this season -- though no friend to fantasy players. Threw for more than 300 yards for the first time this season against the Saints.
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| Bengals (1-10) at Steelers (5-5), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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154.7: Passing yards-per-game allowed by the Steelers defense, the best average in the league.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Corey Dillon vs. imposing front seven of the Steelers.
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| Player to Watch |
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Jason Gildon: Steelers' linebacker has four sacks in the last three games against the Bengals. |
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| Patriots (6-4) at Bills (7-4), 1 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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15-2: Doug Flutie's career record at home as an NFL starter.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Bills' fourth-ranked defense, allowing only 260.7 total yards per game, against the poor running game of the Patriots, which is averaging only 88.6 yards per game.
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| Player to Watch |
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Sam Cowart: Buffalo's leading tackler will be asked to stuff the run and matchup with talented tight end Ben Coates in pass coverage as well. |
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| Buccaneers (6-4) at Seahawks (8-2), 4:05 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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21: League-leading interception total by the Seahawks.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Jon Kitna vs. the fearsome pass rush of Warren Sapp, Chidi Ahanotu and Marcus Jones.
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| Player to Watch |
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Ricky Watters: Has scored five touchdowns in his last three games, after starting off the season with seven straight games without a touchdown.
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| Chiefs (5-5) at Raiders (5-5), 4:15 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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3-0: Elvis Grbac's career record in starts against the Chiefs.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Chiefs defense against the Raiders in third-down situations, as Oakland is the best in the AFC in converting third downs, with a 42.3 percent success rate.
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| Player to Watch |
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Derrick Thomas: Though he has only four sacks this season he has always played well against the Raiders, with nine sacks in his last three games against Oakland.
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| Jets (4-6) at Colts (8-2), 4:15 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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106.7: Curtis Martin's career per-game-rushing average in nine games against the Colts.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Colts' league-best passing offense (271.1 yards per game) against the secondary of the Jets, giving up an average of 221.4 yards per game in the air.
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| Player to Watch |
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Edgerrin James: Hottest player in the league right now, with 789 total yards in the last four games.
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| Falcons (2-8) at Panthers (4-6), 8:20 p.m. |
| Key Stat |
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56: Number of career interceptions by active leader Eugene Robinson, who announced Monday that he would retire following this season.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Steve Beuerlein and the Panthers' aerial-based attack vs. the solid pass defense of the Atlanta Falcons, which allows only 187.8 yards per game.
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| Player to Watch |
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Muhsin Muhammad: Explosive young wideout is close to breaking Panthers' all-time records, as he needs only seven catches and 85 yards to beat Raghib Ismail's records from last year.
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| Packers (5-5) at 49ers (3-7), 9 p.m. Monday |
| Key Stat |
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5-1: Brett Favre's career record against the 49ers, with 1,566 yards passing and 10 touchdowns.
Stats matchup |
| Key Matchup |
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Dorsey Levens' versatility out of the backfield against 49ers linebackers Ken Norton Jr., Winfred Tubbs and Lee Woodall.
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| Player to Watch |
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Antonio Freeman: Packers' go-to receiver has caught only 22 passes in the last six games, including going catchless last Sunday against Detroit after being knocked from the game on cheap shot from Lions free safety Mark Carrier.
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